Protective mounting structure for retractable antenna



R. S. LAPP Oct 17, 1967 PROTECTIVE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR RETRACTABLE ANTENNA' Filed March 19, 1965 FIG. 1

FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH S, LAPP ATTORNEYS United States Patent iilice 3347,@@3 Patented Oct. I7, 1%67 3,347,0tl3 PROTECTIVE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FR RETRACTABLE ANTENNA Rudolph S. Lapp, Le Roy, N.Y., assigner to Lapp Insulator Co., Inc., Le Roy, NSY., a corporation of New York Filed' Mar. I9, 1965, Ser. No. 441,385 7 Claims. (Ci. S2-169) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLSURE A radio antenna for a bomb shelter is supported concentrically within a protective casing by two insulators engaging the inside of the casing wall. The casing has a movable cover and is housed in the roof of the bomb shelter. The antenna and casing in a normally retracted position are protected from explosions and from rubble and debris falling on the bomb shelter roof after an explosion. To use the antenna after an explosion, the casing with its housed antenna is driven forcefully upward through the nibble to an extended position, and then the antenna and its lower supporting insulatorare driven upward in the casing to push the antenna through the casing cover into the free space above the rubble. At an extended position, the antenna raises the casing cover to leave the antenna supported above and insulated from the casing.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to antenna structures and more specifically pertains to a protective mounting structure for a retractable antenna whereby the antenna is at all times protected from adverse environment.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide an improved antenna-mounting structure comprising a movable, protective housing that normally encloses said antenna in a retracted position and which is adapted to carry or transport said antenna from one position to another. Particularly, the antenna mounting provided by this invention has utility at a transmitting or receiving location such as an underground bomb shelter, for example, where the antenna might, at times, have to be moved through considerable debris, rubble or the like in order to position it where it can be safely extended for operation. Obviously, however, the present invention is not restricted to such bomb shelter use, but, may be employed wherever it is desirable to protect the antenna when moving it to and from an operating position through an adverse environment.

More specically, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a protective casing around the antenna which itself is adapted to be raised and lowere-d from the transmitting or receiving station and which protects the antenna while it is being raised or lowered through the debris, etc. to and from an operating position where the antenna can be extended without damage.

The retractable antenna is thus mounted within the protective casing so that it is free to move into and out of an open end in the casing to its retracted and extended positions respectively, through suitable members which insulate the antenna from the casing electrically as Well as maintain coaxial alignment of the antenna and the casing. Furthermore, certain of these insulators are free to move relative to the casing and are adapted to engage with said casing to form a weather-tight seal to protect the antenna base and the antenna connection lead.

A protective cover that is actuated by the antenna is also provided for the open end of the protective casing and serves to automatically seal the end of the protective casing whenever the casing is in its retracted position or is being transported through the debris, etc.

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to provide a protective mounting structure for a retractable antenna.

A further object of this invention is to provide an antenna-mounting structure including a movable casing effective to protectively surround the antenna when raising and lowering the antenna to and from an operating position through debris or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective mounting structure for a retractable antenna and comprising: a casing into and out of which the antenna may be moved; and a shield or cover adjacent an open end of the protective casing adapted to automatically seal oif this open end whenever the antenna is retracted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna-mounting structure of the type described wherein insulator members are carried on the antenna for insulating and supporting the antenna within its protective casing and wherein certain of such insulator members are movable relative to the antenna and adapted to form a weather-tight seal with the protective casing when the antenna is in its extended position.

These and other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent from the specification and drawings. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of an antenna and mounting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway full-length side View of this same antenna-mounting structure showing the protective casing and retractable antenna each in their respective lower or retracted positions;

FIG. 3 is a similar side view of the antenna-mounting structure of FIG. 2 illustrating the protective casing in its upper or extended position;

FIG. 4 is a similar side view of the antenna-mounting structure of FIG. 2 with the antenna partially extended; and

FIG. 5 is a similar side view illustrating the antenna in its fully extended position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and particularly to FIGS. 2-5, the illustrated embodiment of the antenna-mounting structure provided in accordance with the present invention is particularly adapted to be mounted extending through the wall or ceiling 10 of a bomb shelter or similar location having communication facilities.

More particularly, the improved mounting structure preferably comprises an outer support casing 1l which is suitably attached to, and extends through, the bomb shelter 10. Disposed inside the support casing 11 is an inner casing 12 which is free to slide vertically within casing 11 and which forms the protective casing for the antenna structure, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. This protective casing 12 is formed, at its uppermost end in FIG. 1, with a small inwardly extending ridge 13, the purpose of which will also be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

This protective casing 12 surrounds an antenna 14 having a general rod-like configuration and being supported within the protective casing 12 by a lower insulator 15 and an upper insulator 16. Skirts or corrugations may be used on the surface of these insulators as desired. They would be most useful on the uppermost surface of the upper insulatorsince this is exposed to the weather when the antenna -is extended to the operating position. The rod-like antenna 14 is connected to the associated transmitting or receiving apparatus within the shelter through a coaxial cable or connecting lead designated at 17 in FIG. 2. Also anchored to the antenna 14, just above the lowermost :insulator 15, is a stop collar 18.

The lower insulator 15 is preferably firmly affixed to the bottom or base end of antenna 14; whereas, the uppermost insulator member 16 is more particularly clamped in position on the bushing sleeve 19 by the nut 25. The antenna 14 is free to slide within the bushing 19. Likewise, the integral combination bushing 19 and upper insulator 16 are free to slide within casing i12. The upper end of the bushing 19 is in the form of an `extending cover-like portion 20 which has a peripheral recess 21 along its downwardly sloping extending edge to mate with the uppermost edge of the protective casing 12, so as to cover and protect the open end of casing 12 when the casing `12 is moving or in its retracted position (see FIG. l).

A clamping collar 22 is disposed atop the bushing 19 and is secured to such bushing, for example, by means of screws 23 extending downwardly into an associated threaded portion in the bushing 19. This clamping collar 22 is provided with a recess around its inner surface to receive an O ring 24 which seals against the surface of the antenna rod 14 but still permits movement of the antenna vertically relative to the `clamping collar 22 and the connected bushing 19.

As can best be seen by reference to FIG. 1, the uppermost insulator 16 is secured in place on the bushing 19 by means of a threaded collar 2S adapted to be screwed upwardly onto the threaded lower end of bushing 19, and suitable washer rings 26 and 27 of rubber or the like are disposed between the insulator member 16, the bushing 19, and collar to minimize shock between the adjacent parts of the antenna-mounting structure.

Connected to the uppermost end of the antenna 14 is a conical. cap 28 having an outer diameter which is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the clamping collar 22, so that the cap 28 abuts withtheiupper surface of the collar 22 when the antenna 14 s in or is being lowered to its retracted position.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, the upper and lower insulator members 16 and 15 respectively serve to insulate and support the antenna rod 14 within the protective casing 12, but each has a maximum diameter slightly less than that of the inside of the casing 12 so as to permit axial sliding movement of the antenna rod 14 relative to the casing 12. In addition, the uppermost insulator member 16 carries a rubber ring 29 on its outer edge which seals against the casing 12 at all times, and when the antenna 14 is in the uppermost or extended position, the rubber ring 29 also serves as a resilient pad against stop ring 13.

In order to raise the antenna structure from its retracted or non-operating position shown .in FIG. 2 to its fully extended or operating position shown in FIG. 5, the protection casing 12 is first shoved upwardly within the supporting casing 11 and through the debris or the like designated at 30. The mechanism for actuating the casing 12 has not been illustrated since it forms no part of the present invention, but such actuation may be accomplished either mechanically or by air and/or oil pressure.

This upward movement of the casing 12 carries the antenna 14 to the position shown in FIG. 3, and such upward movement of the mounting `structure through the debris 30 is furthermore facilitated by virtue of the downwardly sloping configurations of the cover 29 and the cap 2S. At the same time, the cover 20 serves to shield the upper end of the protective casing l12 and prevent any debris from lodging within such casing.

When the casing 12 has been extended upwardly far enough so that its upper edge and cover 20 clear debris 30 (see FIG. 3), the antenna rod 14 Ais then pushed upwardly as shown sequentially in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here again, the antenna 14 can be either mechanically actuated or may be operated by a piston with air or oil pressure.

When the antenna rod 14 has almost reached its fully extended position (see FIG. 4), the stop collar '18 abuts against the lowermost surface of the bushing 19, and as the antenna 14 is pushed upwardly still further toward its fully extended position (see FIG. 5), the insulator member 16 is carried along with the antenna rod 14 until its lower portion (carrying the rubber sealing ring 29) engages against the ridge portion 13 at the upper end of the protective casing 12. Under these conditions, the rubber ring 29 provides a weather-tight seal at the top of the casing 12. Moreover, when the antenna 14 is in its fully extended position, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover plate 20 is lifted off the open end of the protective casing 12, and the antenna rod 14 is then fully insulated from the casing 12 and ready for operation. In this position, the cover 20 still functions to shield the antenna mounting from rain, etc.

When it is desired to retract or lower the antenna 14, it is simply pulled downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 3, and, the downwardly directed force of the antenna cap 28 against the upper surface of the clamping collar 22 urges the cover plate 20 against the upper edge of the protective casing 12, to once again sealoff the protective casing 12.

Subsequently, the protective casing `12 and antenna 14 are lowered as a unit to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the cover 2G is substantially flush with the top of the bom-b shelter 10. In this position, the antenna structure is well protected against any shock or flying debris which might then result, for example, from a bomb explosion.

Having thus described a protective mounting structure for a retractable antenna as one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood at this time that thev illustrated form has been selected merely for the purpose` of disclosure and that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form shown, to meet the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A protective mounting structure for a radio antenna comprising in vertical orientation:

(a) a support member having a vertical bore;

(b) a tubular protective casing movable axially within said bore vbetween a lower housed position and a raised position;

(c) a cover carriedtby said casing over the top of said casing and movable relative to said casing;

(d) a rod-like antenna supported coaxially within said casing and extending movably through said cover,

said antenna being movable axially relative to said casing and said cover only when said casing `is in said raised position, said antenna having a lower retracted position and an upper extended position, and the top of said antenna in said retracted position being substantially iush with the top of said cover;

(e) a lower insulator fixed to said antenna in the region of the `bottom thereof and movable axially in said casing to support said bottom of said antenna coaxially within said casing;

(f) an upper insulator disposed in the region of the top of saidcasing below and adjacent said cover; said upper insulator supporting said antenna co-` axially for movement within said casing; and

(g) means movable with said antenna for lifting said cover above the top of said casing when said antenna is in said extended position so that said antenna is supported in said extendedposition by said upper and lower insulators in insulated relationship with said casing for sending or receiving radio signals.

2. The protective mounting structure of claim 1 wherein said upper insulator is secured to and movable with said cover.

3. The protective mounting structure of claim 2 including an inturned rim in the region of the top of said casing, and means disposed on said upper insulator around the lower periphery thereof for engaging said inturned ri-rn to limit the upward travel of said upper insulator relative to said casing.

4. The protective mounting structure of claim 2 including sealing means arranged between said antenna and said cover.

5. The protective mounting structure of claim 4 including sealing means arranged between said cover and said upper insulator.

6. The protective ymounting structure of claim 1 wherein said antenna includes a ange in the region of the top References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,553,611 5/1957 Squibb et al. 343-889 X 2,819,547 1/1958 Clements 52-169 X 2,859,840 11/1958 Fantle 52,-297 X 2,861,268 11/1958 Tinsley 343-889 X 3,104,394 9/1963 Y-okoyama 343-901 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR A RADIO ANTENNA COMPRISING IN VERTICAL ORIENTATION: (A) A SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL BORE; (B) A TUBULAR PROTECTIVE CASING MOVABLE AXIALLY WITHIN SAID BORE BETWEEN A LOWER HOUSED POSITION AND A RAISED POSITION; (C) A COVER CARRIED BY SAID CASING OVER THE TOP OF SAID CASING AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CASING; (D) A ROD-LIKE ANTENNA SUPPORTED COXIALLY WITHIN SAID CASING AND EXTENDING MOVABLY THROUGH SAID COVER, SAID ANTENNA BEING MOVABLE AXIALLY RELATIVE TO SAID CASING AND SAID COVER ONLY WHEN SAID CASING IS IN SAID RAISED POSITION, SAID ANTENNA HAVING A LOWER RETRACTED POSITION AND AN UPPER EXTENDED POSITION, AND THE TOP OF SAID ANTENNA IN SAID RETRACTED POSITION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE TOP OF SAID COVER; (E) A LOWER INSULATOR FIXED TO SAID ANTENNA IN THE REGION OF THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND MOVABLE AXIALLY IN SAID CASING TO SUPPORT SAID BOTTOM OF SAID ANTENNA COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID CASING; (F) AN UPPER INSULATOR DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF THE TOP OF SAID CASING BELOW AND ADJACENT SAID COVER; SAID UPPER INSULATOR SUPPORTING SAID ANTENNA COAXIALLY FOR MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID CASING; AND (G) MEANS MOVABLE WITH SAID ANTENNA FOR LIFTING SAID COVER ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID CASING WHEN SAID ANTENNA IS IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION SO THAT SAID ANTENNA IS SUPPORTED IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION BY SAID UPPER AND LOWER INSULATORS IN INSULATED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CASING FOR SENDING OR RECEIVING RADIO SIGNALS. 